A list of the top Diaper Bag Essentials you can’t leave home without.
As a first-time mom, figuring out what essentials you need in your newborn diaper bag can be really intimidating. For such a tiny little person, newborns sure need a lot of gear!
Now that you’re home from the hospital, you’re probably going to want to get out of the house, even if it’s just for that first doctor’s appointment. And going out with baby means it’s time to pack for baby!
You may be asking yourself what you need to pack in your diaper bag, or if you even need one at all. The answer is YES, you definitely need one! Trust me, I’ve tried to find purses with the same amount of pockets and storage for sippy cups and bottles, but in 10 years I have never found one.
The diaper bag is the first essential item you need for your diaper bag…I know that doesn’t actually make sense but you get what I’m saying😊
Trying to work out what baby essentials are actually the most essential is tough when you’ve never experienced life with a newborn baby.
Related: What to Pack for Labor & Delivery & Postpartum Must-Haves for New Moms
Your first instinct may be to pack every single item you’ve purchased for your new baby and stuff it into the bag. But don’t worry, when you take your baby out, there’s no reason to try to squeeze your entire nursery into your new mom bag.
I’ve put together a newborn diaper bag checklist that you can follow (and print) to see what essentials you actually need to pack in your diaper bag.
Using this checklist as a guide will help make packing your diaper bag much simpler. Once you know your baby’s habits, you can adjust things over time as needed.
This list covers the basic necessities for your newborn that you shouldn’t leave home without. You can find the checklist at the bottom of the page.
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Diaper Bag Essentials
Diaper Bag – This bag from Amazon is my new favorite! In the last 10 years, I’ve had several different brands of bags and I’m loving this one.
Besides the price (only $30!) I love all the pockets. This bag has multiple open pockets inside that are great for bottles, your phone, wallet, etc.
The outside pockets are great because they are zippered! This makes it so much easier to grab the little things you need like lip balm and hand sanitizer. No need to dig through the bag to find small items.
Not only does this bag have a shoulder strap, but it also can be used as a backpack, plus it easily attaches to your stroller handle.
Diapers & Wipes – At the newborn stage, I would recommend having 8 diapers in your bag. That way if you forget to restock, you should still have some left. Plus, newborns poop A LOT so sometimes you may change multiple diapers within a very short time.
If you want the best deal on diapers and wipes, then Costco & Sams Club will be your best bet. But, if you don’t have a membership you should check out Subscribe & Save on Amazon Prime.
You save an extra 5% and you can schedule to have diapers and/or wipes delivered at your convenience. When you have a newborn, it’s nice to not have to worry about running out of diapers, or even leaving the house when you don’t feel like it!
Changing Pad – Most diaper bags will come with one, but if yours doesn’t, there are plenty of options available. I like this one because it has good padding for the baby’s head, it’s easy to clean, and it is wide enough for baby to grow with it.
Definitely make sure you never leave home without one! The last thing you want to do is change your baby on one of those bathroom changing stations, without a protective barrier. I’ve used the seats in my car as a changing table several times because I forgot my changing pad.
Diaper Cream – It’s good to have a small tube on hand just in case.
Change of Clothes – If you have yet to experience a blowout, you can count yourself lucky. ALWAYS have a change of clothes with you. I took my oldest to his first newborn doctor’s appointment and guess what happened as soon as we got there?
Poop. Lots and lots of poop and it was EVERYWHERE. And of course, being a new mom, I didn’t have a spare change of clothes with us. I never made that mistake again!
Nursing Cover – If you are worried about nursing in public, then a nursing cover is the way to go! It’s such a small investment and it makes public nursing so much easier.
There are plenty of different styles to choose from but I preferred this style; it’s simple, easy to use, and inexpensive.
Swaddle Blankets – These muslin swaddle blankets are amazing; they are soft and cozy plus they are nice and big. They even get softer with each wash. Keep in mind that this type of material is thin, so it’s great for summer months but during cold seasons it’s only good as a swaddle, not as an actual blanket.
Minky is my absolute favorite material for baby and kids’ blankets. This blanket is so soft and cozy plus it comes in lots of different colors and patterns.
Burp Cloths – You should keep at least 2 in your bag. Some babies spit up more than others, but all babies spit up at some point.
TIP: If you don’t want to buy burp cloths, just use receiving blankets…they cover a lot more space too. Definitely a win-win; save money and save your clothes from ending up in the hamper…again.
Bandana Bibs – If your baby is a drooler, these are definitely an essential you need in your diaper bag. Besides being adorable and trendy, the bandana bibs hold a lot of moisture.
Extra Pacifier and Pacifier clip
Pacifier Wipes – Even with a paci clip, your baby’s pacifier will meet the floor almost everywhere you take him. These little wipes will make you feel better about popping that paci back in his mouth.
Infant Tylenol – I preferred to always have this with me after I was stuck with a very sick toddler and no open stores while we were on vacation. After this, I made sure to always have some in my diaper bag just in case.
A small toy or teething toy – Whatever toy you decide on, make sure it’s soft. Once baby starts throwing things in the car, you will be happier to be hit in the head with a soft toy.
For Mom
Tampons/pads
Nursing Pads
Lip Balm
Hair Ties
Hand Sanitizer
Printable Diaper Bag Checklist
Download Checklist Here
Are there any items I missed? If there’s something you think I need to add leave a comment below and let me know.
Related: What to Pack for Labor & Delivery & Postpartum Must-Haves for New Moms & Best Gliders & Rocking Chairs for Breastfeeding
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